Demountable roof forming panel



June 27, 1961 H. s. DUNN DEMOUNTABLE ROOF FORMING PANEL Filed April 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n N 61 I I: l w v 2 2 hfla V 1 r g I :a 9 (J:

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United States Patent 2,989,822 DEMOUNTABLE ROOF FORMING PANEL Harold S. Dunn, 163 Fiesta Way, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Filed Apr. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 806,668 Claims. (Cl. 50120) This invention relates to demountable roof forming panels for use in partially covering the usual outdoor areas that are normally enclosed by insect screening, such as patios and swimming pools.

Outdoor areas such as patios and swimming pools are normally framed in to have screened side walls and a screened roof area and with the roof being formed by a plurality of spaced apart rafter beams that span the area to be enclosed and with the beams being fixed against lateral flexing by mullion forming beams and with the roof section being normally formed flat. It has been found desirable that a portion of the roof area be covered against the entry of rain, such as that area closely adjacent to a building. The covering of such areas has presented a serious problem from the standpoint of water drainage and also the hazards of being dislodged by relatively heavy winds. The purpose of this invention is to install inclined and preferably translucent panels between an area of the rafter beams and with the panels being disposed in areas defined by two parallel rafter beams and a mullion and with the panels draining outwardly from the building to deposit water into a gutter that extends for the full length of the area covered by the panels and whereby water may be drained laterally to a side of the enclosure for subsequent discharge in any suitable manner, such as a downspout.

The invention contemplates novel structural means whereby the translucent panels are fixedly connected to a rigid frame and with the frame being insertable upwardly from the screened area to rest upon a cross ledge at its upper end and with its lower end being supported upon the gutter device and with the opposite longitudinal edges of the frame being weathered with respect to the rafter beams at each side of the respective opening and whereby the panel and its supporting frame is held against upward movement, while the downward movement is prevented by the resting engagement of the frame upon a marginal edge of the gutter.

The invention also contemplates a gutter device that functions for water drainage and as a supporting medium for the panel and its frame and with the gutter device being hingedly connected to the mullion beams in a manner whereby the gutter may be released and swung downwardly to permit the panel and its frame to be removed downwardly from the opening and from engagement with the weathering means along its longitudinal edges.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one multiple section roof forming element having the invention applied thereto,

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a supporting frame and a connected roof forming panel.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates rafter beams that are disposed in multiple to span the roof opening of the area to be enclosed. The

2,989,822 Patented June 27, 1961 "ice beams 5 are preferably formed of rectangular hollow aluminum extrusions and the beams 5 are supported in horizontal and equidistantly spaced apart parallelism as is well recognized in roof constructions. Between each beam 5, there is rigidly anchored mullion forming beams 6 and the beams 6 are anchored to the beams 5 in any convenient manner. The beams 6 are substantially identical in cross section to the beams 5. Each of the beams 5 and 6 adjacent their marginal edges are provided with splined grooves 7 for the reception of insect screening 8 that is anchored along its marginal edges in the grooves 7 by spline strips 9. The beams 6 are spaced apart a distance to define substantially equal openings 10. One beam 6 and the rafter beams 5 are suitably anchored and supported with respect to a preconstructed building from which the area to be enclosed shall extend. The openings 10a, for purposes of illustration, are the openings adjacent to the building or they may obviously be the openings to be covered against the entry of rain and may be disposed in any area of the roof.

The numeral 11 designates a generally rectangular frame, formed of tubular aluminum extrusions and having transverse end members 12 and longitudinal members 13. The extrusions forming the frame 11 are preferably rectangular in cross section. Adapted to overlie and to be coextensive with the frame 11 is a panel sheet 14. The panel sheet 14 may be formed of any desirable material that is impervious to water, such as fiberglass, masonite or plywood. Overlying the marginal portions of the sheet 14, are angle irons 15. The angle irons 15 for the lower end of the frame, has one flange down-' turned as at 16, while the angle irons 15 across the up per end of the sheet has its flange 17 upwardly extending. The flanges 15 along the longitudinal edges of the sheet have their flanges 18 upwardly extending to engage within a groove 19 formed by a weather strip 20, that is se curely anchored to the opposed sides of the beams 5 and that is angled upwardly in accordance with the angular ity of the frame and its supported panel. Suitable caulking compound may be engaged between the flanges 18 and the groove 19 as an additional safeguard against the entry of Water. The angles 15 are connected to the frame 11 by self-threading screws 21, that pass through openings formed in the lower flanges of the angles and through openings formed in the panel 14 and the upper surfaces of the frame members 12 and 13 and any suitable caulking compound may be engaged between the flanges of the surface of the panels 14 as an additional safeguard against the entry of water.

Fixedly connected to one mullion beam 6, constituting the beam and the end of the opening 1021, is an angle 22, fixed to the side of'the beam 6 by screws 23. The angle 22 constitutes a supporting ledge for the upper end of of the frame 11 and extends substantially for the full width of the opening 10a. A covering weather strip 24 extends for the full length of the beam 6 and with one marginal edge overlying the upper end portion of the frame and its angle 15 and flange 17.

Disposed between the next adjacent beam 6 of the opening to be covered and to be co-extensive with the length of the area and particularly beneath those areas thatsupport the removable frame and its supporting panel, is a gutter device 25. The gutter, also an extruded U-shape channel and with the channel being upwardly opening. One marginal edge 26 constitutes a rest for the lower end of the frame 11. The gutter is held by an angle bracket 27, that is detachably connected to the bottom of .each beam 5 and held in position by a wing nut 2 8, that engages a fixed stud 29. The angle bracket 27 is .connecteclto one side of the gutter by a screw 30. The opposite side of the gutter is hingedly connected at 31 to a side of the adjacent beams 6, as clearly shown in FIGURE 2 and whereby the gutter may be swung downwardly to release the frame 11. The gutter at one end is connected to a suitable drainage downspout. It will be apparent, that any water striking the upper surface of the panel 14 will drain downwardly and be deposited in the gutter 25, where it will flow laterally toward the particular end or ends that are connected to the drainage downspout. Should any water enter the frame members 12 or 13, past the screws 21, it will drain outwardly through suitable apertures 32 into the gutter 25.

In the use of the device, the gutter 25 is swung downwardly upon its hinge 31, carrying with it the brackets 27. Frames 11 and their connected panel 14 and the angles 15, 17 and 18 are shifted upwardly into the respective opening a, engaging the flange 17 beneath the strip 24 and also engaging the upper frame member 12 upon the frame 22. Simultaneously with this action, the vertical flange of the angle 18 is moved into the groove 19, forming the longitudinal weathering connection between the panel structure and the adjacent beams 5. The gutter 25 is then swung upwardly to engage the several brackets 27 over the studs 29 after which, the wing nuts are engaged with the studs to rigidly support the gutter against downward movement and to also provide a support for the frame 11 against downward movement. When the panels are to be removed, the several nuts 28 are removed and the gutter swung downwardly, permitting the operator to shift the frame 11 and associated parts downwardly to be removed from the opening 10a. The device thus offers a novel construction for a roof closure that may be installed and removed as the occasion requires. All of the parts are formed of aluminum that prevents rusting or corrosion by the weather. The device thus provides a novel form of closure that may be disposed within preformed openings upon the particular area of the roof to be enclosed. The frames and the supporting panels are quickly and easily mounted and removed and requires only that the operator remove the several wing nuts 28 for the brackets 27 in order to permit the gutter device 25 to be shifted out of the supporting arrangement for the frame 11. The device is shielded against the weather across its upper end and along its marginal edges and provides for suitable drainage into the gutter 25. The hinged connection for the gutter 25 also provides a convenient means whereby the gutter may be swung downwardly for the removal of accumulated trash or the like.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A roof structure for screened-in areas of the type that consists of screened side walls and a fiat screened roof, the roof comprising a plurality of parallel and equidistantly spaced rafter forming beams and with the beams being connected at spaced apart points by mullion forming beams, the several beams being of hollow rectangular extrusions, the mullion forming beams with the rafter forming beams defining generally rectangular openings in the roof structure, panel devices that are detachably supported within certain of the openings, the panel devices embodying an open frame of extruded aluminum sections that support a sheet of non-metallic material that is co-extensive with the frame, the frame and the sheet being co-extensive in width to the opening, fixed means carried by one mullion forming beam that spans the opening and that constitutes a rest for an upper end of the panel, means carried by the frame and the connected sheet along its marginal sides and means fixedly engaged with the rafter beams upon the opposite sides of the openings that has an interlocking engagement with the marginal means and whereby to provide a weather tight joint along the marginal sides of the frame, an upwardly opening channel that constitutes a gutter and with the gutter being connected to one mullion beam and having a transverse width whereby partially underlie the roof openings and to underlie the lower end of the panel, the gutter being co-extensive with the several openings, one marginal edge of the gutter constituting a resting support for a lower end of the panel and the sup ported sheet and whereby the panel is supported in an inclined manner with respect to the opening, the frame and its lower end being spaced from the adjacent mullion beam and whereby to constitute a drainage area from the panel to the gutter, means hingedly connecting one side of the gutter to the several mullion beams whereby the gutter may be swung downwardly out of supporting engagement with the panels to permit the panels to be shifted downwardly and out of the opening, and means holding the gutter in its operative drainage position and its operative supporting relationship to the panels.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the said sheet is fixed to the frame by angle irons that extend in overlying relation to the marginal edge of the sheet and with fastening devices extending from the angle irons through the sheet and into the frame, the means fixedly engaged with the rafter beams being L- shaped strips fixedly attached to the opposite sides of the rafter beams of each opening, the means which has interlocking engagement with the marginal means consisting of longitudinal angle irons along the marginal sides of the frame having upstanding flanges that engage within slots formed by the L-shaped strips to thereby constitute the weather seal along the marginal edges of the panels, a weather shield fixedly connected to the mullion beams at one end of the opening and which extend into the opening to overlie an upwardly extending flange carried by an angle iron that spans the upper end of the panel.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the gutter device that is hingedly connected at one side to the mullion beams enables the gutter to be swung downwardly in an arc, bracket devices connected with the gutter at the opposite side and that have detachable connection with fixed studs disposed upon the underside of the several rafter forming beams.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the panel is formed of translucent material and wherein the supporting frame is formed of rectangular hollow extrusions, the said frame being movable upwardly into the opening to be supported upon the supporting means at one end of the frame and to engage the flanges of the marginal angle irons into interlocking engagement with the L-shaped strips, the said frame across its lower end being apertured and with the apertures opening into the gutter.

5. A roof structure of the character described that includes a plurality of horizontally arranged and equidistantly spaced apart rafter beams and with the rafter beams being connected together by mullion beams and with the mullion beams being equidistantly spaced apart thereby to form substantially identical roof openings, panel devices engaged in certain of the openings formed by the rafter beams and the mullion beams to cover the selected openings against the passage of foreign elements, the panels each comprising an open frame dimensioned to span the width of each roof opening and with the frame inclined inwardly in the opening for drainage purposes, a non-metallic sheet of material that is supported around its marginal edges within the frame in a water-tight manner, means at one end of each of the selected openings to support an upper end of the panel, weathering flanges carried by the panel that have a weathering engagement within weather strips carried upon the opposite sides of adjacent rafter beams, the panels being disposed in resting engagement upon the support at the upper end of the opening and with the panels being inclined in a manner whereby to drain water away from an adjacent building, a drainage gutter connected to the undersides of the rafter beams and extending for the full length of the roof to underlie the 5 lower ends of the several panels whereby to constitute a support against any downward shifting movement of the 508,287 panels after installation, the gutter being hingedly mount- 1,022,948 ed so that it can be shifted downwardly away from its 1,129,462

underlying relation to the panels whereby the panels may 10 2,136,987

be bodily swung downwardly to be disengaged from the respective roof opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cunningham Nov. 7, 1893 Jacobs Apr. 9', 1912 Foley Feb. 23, 1915 Walker Nov. 15, 1938 

